Karen Davis
Karen started her career in Los Angeles for Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine magazines. This experience sparked her interest in residential interior design. Karen transitioned her focus, working for two internationally recognized residential and hospitality design firms in Los Angeles and New York. Projects in her care varied in size and scope from luxury residences, small boutiques, large hotels and executive apartments.
In 2001, Karen relocated to Connecticut and founded Davis Raines Design. As she built her business, she discovered many of her clients from NYC had or dreamed of a weekend home in Connecticut. She helped them realize their dreams through interior design, renovations and new builds. Karen's expertise in design-build project management has earned her an unparalleled reputation and made her a sought-after designer.
Karen was a past-president of the Board of Directors for the American Society of Interior Designers Connecticut Chapter in 2018-2019 and has been featured in Architectural Digest, Beautiful Homes, Country Homes, New England Home Magazine, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens and in “At Home in the American Barn”, a book about renovated timber frame homes.
When she’s not working Karen enjoys tennis, hiking, is hobbyist beekeeper, is raising two teenagers and is very involved with her Washington, Connecticut community.
Photos by Lindsey Victoria PhotographyEducation & Certificates
Karen's education began at The University of Southern California. (USC), where she earned her BA in English Literature. She continued her education at The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and completed the Interior & Environmental Design program, considered one of the top 10 Architecture and Interior Design programs in the country, earning her Masters of Interior Architecture.
Karen is certified by CIDQ (Council for Interior Design Qualification), is a member of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) and was the Connecticut Chapter past-president for ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) in 2018-2019. Karen previously served on the Board of Directors of NEWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality Design), as well as the Board of Governors for the Washington Club, a private club in Washington, Connecticut.
PHILOSOPHY
Karen’s design philosophy is to create interiors to realize each client’s individual vision. Her approach is wholly influenced by her client’s desired environment within their existing property. Karen works to explore all possibilities, taking advantage of existing layouts and providing solutions to realize her client's goals. Karen's main objective is to create spaces that will be loved, lived in and enjoyed.
Throughout the project, Karen communicates clearly about the progress of the project, proactively addressing issues or obstacles. Karen manages every project from start to finish, ensuring her clients feel relaxed and informed throughout. Her sophisticated sense of color, texture and fabric, along with her curated network of products and specialty service providers, allowing her to work in a wide range of design aesthetics, paying close attention to space planning and providing organization solutions.
Photos by Lindsey Victoria Photography